The Kano Civil Society Forum (KCSF) has elected new executives to run its affairs, after 11 years under a caretaker arrangement.
The election which held at the NUJ press Centre, Kano, on Saturday, saw the emergence of Muhammad Bello, the Chief Executive of African Center For Innovative Research and Development, as the new President of the Forum.
Bello polled 56 votes out of a total of 60 votes cast by members of the Forum, defeating Ibrahim Wayya, a former Caretaker President, who got only two votes.
In his speech after the election, the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Hamisu Sharifai, explained that a total of seven positions were returned unopposed, seven were contested for and one, Assistant Financial Secretary, was adopted by the Congress, making a total of 15 members of the EXCO.
Fatima Musa, the Chief Operations Officer, Bridge Connect Africa Initiative, was returned as Vice President-1, while Kabiru Ibrahim was elected Vice President-2.
Salisu Yusuf, who is the Chairman of Kano Social Protection Platform, was elected Secretary General, and Aminu Sani Muhammad was returned as Assistant Secretary General.
Other elected officials include Maryam Garba, Treasurer, and Umar Musa, Legal Adviser.
In his address after the election, the Chairman Board of Trustees of the Forum, Prof Muhammad Tabiu, SAN, also a one time Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, commended the election process and congratulated members of the Forum for their active participation.
Tabiu urged the newly-elected officers to be dedicated to the progress and development of the Forum, especially in view of the current economic downturn in the country.
In his acceptance speech, the newly-elected chairman thanked the Forum for giving him the mandate and appealed for synergy among members to move the Forum forward for the betterment of the society.
The elected executives would serve as EXCO officials of the Forum for the next two years.